REBECCA ATIENO ORIKO

The Bekki Foundation was founded in honor of Rebecca Atieno Oriko, a loving sister who passed away at age 25 from the complications of sickle cell anemia. Bekki as she preferred being called was the youngest sister of five siblings born and raised by a single African mother.

Whereas we are not to be dictated by our past, Bekki fought the toughest battles throughout her lifetime due to this medical condition. It was very painful to watch Bekki endure the agonizing pain whenever she was in crisis. More discouraging, was the lack of proper medical care in Africa to treat or manage the medical condition.

Nonetheless, Bekki did not allow a condition to hinder her dreams. Bekki was an over-achiever who would press through pain to meet her goals. Bekki successfully completed elementary and high school in Africa, then proceeded to United States of America to pursue further studies. From childhood, Bekki was a poet and wrote lots of them. She frequently participated in poetry competitions in high school. As a young adult, Bekki expanded her love of penmanship to writing magazine columns, poetry and acting opportunities. Among Bekki’s memoirs were several journals of poems, columns, short stories and fashion designs. Bekki held upper management positions in marketing following graduation from college.

It appears that Bekki was in the process of establishing a publishing company or was in the process of publishing her work through what was discovered as the name for her company and or work; “Whiteleaves”. In Bekki’s memory, we hope to publish Bekki’s poems, columns and short stories and avail them through the Foundation’s website “STORE”.

Bekki was very loving. We are still amazed at how she genuinely cared and ministered to all, even the most challenging people. She had the strongest affinity to children. Additionally, Bekki had a sense of family and community and through her eyes, everybody mattered. Bekki reached out to poor children in the slums of Nyalenda, Kenya; at Christmas, she ensured that she had a gift for everyone close to her. She sacrificed a lot; always giving out of a pure heart.

Bekki enjoyed life and was very spontaneous on how she lived and enjoyed her life. She loved the arts and to dance. Four months prior to her death, Bekki was seated listening to music. Out of nowhere, I heard this loud angelic voice. It was Bekki singing, “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe.

It is for these attributes coupled with Bekki’s tenacity and resilience that The Bekki Foundation was formed; to reach out to impoverished villages and slums of Africa; to serve the sick; to support, empower and educate both children and adults; to improve quality of life and to make a difference in a village, a slum, a city, a nation and a continent. In honor of “the Bekki”, if she can now look down from heaven and “only imagine”.